Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-10-08
gyooDAAwx FARMERS. CLUB.

eFOODAAW-N FARMERS CLUB.
Reported for the Alexandria GAzErTE.)
The Woodlnwn Farmers Club met at the
residence OF CORTLAND Lukens on the 1st of
October, President Pierscn in the chair
When the minutes OF last meeting were
Rad Prof. Mason said there was an error be
would like to to correct. Smithsonian SIN.
slitute" should be Institution" This was
a point Prof Henry used to be very tena.
cious about. Smithsons will reads ian in
s.itutiou ior the diffusion of knowledge
among men,
The subject left over from last meeting,
''The improvement OF the road TO Alexan-
dria was taken up and discussed at some
engtl.
G. Lukens read an article from the Gir-
qinia Home and Farm in relation to road
working. The new road law now il force
in this county provides for the levying of
additional taxes, and it was thought the law
well executed would result in substantial
Improvement.
Charles Gibbs was encouraged to perae-
vora with the subscription by parties along
lhe route for the purpose of graveling and
il conjunction with the road commissioners,
to get the road in good shape for winter
travel
James ~. Roberts then read the critical
report, in substance, es follows: This farm
is located on the Nit. Vernon avenue er
tended, about eight miles from Alexandria.
and will CT course. De very convenient TO
Washington when that great thoroughfare
is completed. On approaching the residence
they were struck with the extreme ncatuess
lol 81 ba;-
cwn shortcomings in that respect, but WITH
cur present fsncs isws they though the two
f.aat gates, aud, 10 fact, the whole fence in
front Of the bouss might be dispensed with
10 adyanlsge by adding to tha beauty Of the
place and removing the necessity OF ex.
erticn cu the part o! the committee
in opening the gates, as some of
them were born tired. y herd of FIVE
Jerseys first gained their attention. about
thirty head Of thoroughbreds and grades
principally the former-making a herd of
which aug one might be proud They are
headed hg very fine specimen Of his race
lhas they would think worthy of q premium
at say fair. One animal a. the late fair at
Rockville. 70 ths contrary Notwithstanding.
Some Of those who = ere there vii! under
stand this TIE cows did not seem TO be
suffering from dgsrepsia TatbeT 10 their sur
prise when they though Gf what cur host
had hereic:Gy, ;o:d ;hsm in regard 10 his
ulHnner IF iestice muGh and often. This,
theq ,noug:;, ;.daiU@ 10 ;ns labor of caring
fcr tbsn, and not 40 eood for The animal as
lvo or three coo,; feeds u day aud plenty of
! time 10 sleep The permanent pasture on
which they were feeding showed close work
and they thought would be benefited by
some drain tile properly piacsd. They also
thought good dressing Of line would be
beneficial.
| Z field OF about % acres Of corn showed q
very fine crop Of fodder aud q fair crop of
ears, but not in proportion to the fodder.
This, 30 doubt, is owing TO the drought, but
the cora being planted in drills suggested
the thought whether the crop Of ears would
not have been larger if the corn had been
planted in hills aud worked both ways.
| They took exception to his method Of SOW
ipg pane dust and fertilizers Gu the sod and
| blowing ii under for corn as beiog q waste.
! Most leading farmers advise keeping them
near the surface as they work down fast
enough. Our host was fortunate in having
q cron Of wheat averaging % bushels to the
acre and is putting in his usual quantity this
| tall. NOS being debarred by the continuous
low prices. He is evidently one who be-
lieves that we'll begun is half done,
and does nos spare labor in the preparation
of the seed bed Ii he thinks, with many
Of our agricultural writers, that "tillage is
manure" ne still applies "the artillery. =" both
heavy and light, in the shape of commerciai
| fertilizers and barn'yard manure, with a
liberal hand. and keeps no books against
the crops They we're especially Interested
in the result OF this wheat field on account
of the application OF lime it received year
ago. They were inclined to criticize his
drilling up aud down hill instead of cross.
wise as more apt to gully and wash out.
Our host had become disheartened in sow.
ing corn ground in wheat from successive
failure, and will sow oats on all OF it in fu-
ture, having done so profitably on q part for
many years past The farm buildings and
fences were ali in good order and lmple'
ments mostly housed. The overfowipg
barns, as evidenced by the hay stacked and
sold, gave proofs of good crops of grass. a
small silo filled gith ensilaged corn will be
q welcome addition to the winter fations OF
aocl; of 50 ewes that are in good order 10
!: go into cold weather. He does not like en-
| silage very much for butter making, but the
committee think if he would give it u fair
trial be would find it to compare favorably
with the green corn he was feeding through
the summer. The committee concluded
they found s pleasant subject to write about
with much to praise and little to condemn
and wished this section had more such farm
ers aud farmeresses.
In reply to the criticism Of his drilling the
wheat up and down the hill our host stated
ne did it to allow each drill furrow to carry
i;s own water apd thereby prevent
washiuG in gulies; he also thought it an ad
vautaee III being at right angles to the di
rec.ion oil the prevailing winter winds. H.
LIZ l., I;eft tlaat; holt